Yarn entwining method and apparatus



Sept. l, 1964 w. D. JONES ETAL 3,146,573

YARN ENTWINING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed June 29. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS. WILLIAM D. JONES BY LOUIS M. LANDOLFI Sept. 1, 1964 w. D.JONES ETAL YARN ENTwINING METHOD AND APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 29, 1962 INVENToRs. wlLLlAM D. JoNi-:s

Louls M. LANDOLFI United States Patent O 3,146,573 YARN ENTWINNG METHDAND APPARATUS William D. Jones and Louis M. Landolfi, Asheville, N.C.,assignors to American Enka Corporation, Erika, N.C., a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,251 7 Claims. (Cl. 57-62)This invention relates generally to yarn entwining and more particularlyto a method and apparatus for semicontinuously entwining a plurality ofyarn strands into a single entwined strand.

In the conventional yarn entwining method, two or more yarn supplypackages are arranged in axial relationship with each other. The yarnend drawn off the lowermost package or cone passes through the core ofthe upper package and is entwined with the yarn end from the upperpackage. The thus-entwined yarn is then passed to a suitable take-up andcollection means.

A principal disadvantage in the aforementioned known method is that theyarn supply packages never run out simultaneously due to inherentdifferences in quantities of yarn wound on each package. This results inconsiderable waste since the entwining operation must be stopped as soonas the first of the packages is exhaused. Under such circumstances arelatively large quantity of yarn is usually left on the other cone orcones supplying yarn to the entwining operation which becomes wastesince the cones must be doifed and replaced with fresh supply packagesbefore continuing. Moreover, in carrying out the entwining operation,the operators must be careful to stop the entwining apparatus as soon asthe rst supply package nears exhaustion and immediate doing is thenrequired since only one set of supply packages at a time may beconsumed. Hence, the overall operation is relatively ineticient with oneoperator only being able to handle a few machines.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method forentwining yarn not having the disadvantage inherent in the known method.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process for entwiningyarn in which waste is reduced to a minimum.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a process forentwining yarn with reduced labor requirements and increased eciency.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forentwining yarn in which waste is reduced to a minimum and requires lesslabor to operate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a package holderwhich enables the entwining of yarn from at least two groups of pairedyarn supply packages.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detaileddescription.

In accordance with applicants invention, yarn from several hollow yarnsupply packages is continuously unwound and combined into a singlestrand of entwined yarn by arranging the yarn supply packages in pairs,each pair supplying one end of yarn to the entwined strand. In each pairthe packages preferably are mounted one above the other in axialalignment, with the inner end of yarn from the upper package being tiedto the outer end of yarn from the lower package. Two or more pairs ofthus-mounted packages are arranged so that their hollow cores lie alongthe same axis and the outer end from the 3,145,573 Patented Sept. 1,1964 ice upper package of the lower pair passed through the cores of theupper pair of yarn supply packages. The outermost yarn from the toppackage of the upper pair and the yarn from the top package of the lowerpair are then drawn off simultaneously and entwined into a single strandwhich is taken up on a suitable collection spool. When the yarn from thetop packages is exhaused, transfer is automatically made to the lowerpackage of each pair.

The operator, in dong, removes the exhausted upper packages, moves thelower supply package of each pair to the upper position, replaces themwith fresh packages, ties the ends as previously outlined andrecommences the entwining operation.

For purposes of further illustration, there is shown in the drawings apreferred embodiment of the invention. However, the invention is notintended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalitiesshown.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section showing the arrangement of two pairs ofsupply packages at the beginning of the entwining operation.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the uppermost pair of supply packagesafter all the yarn has been unwound from the top cone and transfer hasbeen made to the lower cone of the pair.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the cone or package holder.

In FIGURE l, hollow yarn supply packages 1, 2, 3 and 4 are arranged inpairs mounted on hollow spindles 5 and 6, each pair being separated bycone holders 7 and 8. Plates 9 and 10 support each pair of packageswhich in turn are mounted on frame members 11 and 12.

The inner end of yarn 13 from supply package 1 is tied at 14 to theouter end of yarn 15 from supply package 2. Yarn ends 16 and 18 fromsupply packages 3 and 4 are tied at 17 in a corresponding manner. Theoutermost yarn 19 from supply package 3 passes through thread guide 20,hollow spindle 5 and then through thread guide 21 where it is entwinedwith the outermost yarn 22 from supply package 1. The thus-entwined yarnis then taken up on collection spool 23.

In FIGURE 2, only the top pair of supply packages are shown. All of theyarn has been drawn olf supply package 1 with only cone 24 remaining andtransfer has been made to supply package 2. Thus, outermost yarn 15 fromsupply package 2 is entwined with outermost yarn 13 from supply package4 at this stage of the operation.

Cone holder 7, shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, is provided with circularrim or flange 25 for supporting a yarn supply package. Annular bore 26passes transversely through holder 24 for receiving a hollow spindle.Edge 27 is beveled slightly to facilitate assembly. Side portion or plug28 is tapered to the same degree of inclination as the inner surface ofconventional hollow yarn cones. Tubular mandrel 30 extends from the bodyof cone holder 7 and is of such diameter that a snug fit is providedwhen inserted into the upper opening of a conventional hollow yarn cone.

In accordance with applicants entwining method, hollow yarn supplypackages 1 and 2, separated by cone holder 7, are placed over spindle 5on plate 9 mounted on frame 11. Inner end 13 of package 1 is tied at 14to outer end 15 of package 2. Alternatively, other connecting means suchas gluing the yarn ends together may be used. In like manner, yarnsupply packages 3 and 4 are mounted on frame 12 and the inner and outerends similarly connected. The outermost yarn 19 from supply package 3 isfed through guide 20 and hollow spindle 5. Outermost yarn 22 from supplypackage l and yarn 19 are drawn simultaneously and entwined. Thethus-entwined yarn is then passed through guide 21 and collected onspool 23. When all the yarn on supply packages 1 and 3 is consumed,transfer is automatically made to packages 2 and 4. It is immaterialwhether the yarn on packages 1 and 3 runs out simultaneously since thetransfer to the lower package of each pair is automatic as soon as theupper package is exhausted.

After all of the yarn has been unwound from both upper supply packages,the apparatus is stopped, the yarn is cut and the cones of supplypackages 1 and 3 removed together with the balance of yarn supplypackages 2 and Fresh yarn packages are placed in the positions formerlyoccupied by packages 2 and 4 and packages 2 and 4 are mounted in thepositions formerly occupied by packages 1 and 3. The ends are tied inthe same manner as outlined previously and the yarn entwining operationcontinued until the next dofiing is required. While the entwiningoperation has been described using only two pairs of yarn supplypackages, any number of pairs may be employed to produce a multi-strandentwined yarn.

By arranging the yarn supply packages in pairs in accordance withapplicants invention, all of the yarn may be used from a supply packagebefore dofiing, thus eliminating the waste usually concomitant withentwining operations utilizing supply packages having unequal yarnlengths. Moreover, the operator need not pay close attention to the runout of yarn on the first package since ample time is allowed for doflingafter the first package of each pair is consumed and during run off ofyarn from the second packages. Operator attention, therefore, may bedivided over a greater number of positions.

Numerous modications and variations of applicants entwining method willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. However, the invention isintended to be limited only as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for entwining yarn unwound from a piurality of yarn supplypackages comprising the steps of mounting the supply packages axially inpairs, connecting the inner yarn end of a first package to the outeryarn end of a second package in each pair, passing the outermost yarnfrom the rst package of a second pair through the center of the rst pairof yarn supply packages, passing the outermost yarn of additional pairsof yarn supply packages through the centers of succeeding pairs, andthence through the first pair, drawing the outer'- most yarns of thesecond and additional pairs of yarn supply packages concurrently withthe outermost yarn from the first package of the first pair whereby theyarns are entwined into a single strand, and collecting the thusentwinedyarns.

2. A semi-continuous method for entwining yarn unwound from a pluralityof yarn supply packages comprising the steps of mounting the supplypackages axially in pairs, connecting the inner yarn end of a firstpackage to the outer yarn end of a second package in each pair, passingthe outermost yarn from the first package of a second pair through thecenter of the first pair of yarn supply packages, passing the outermostyarn of additional pairs of yarn supply packages through the centers ofsucceeding pairs, and thence through the first pair, drawing theoutermost yarns of the second and additional pairs of yarn supplypackages concurrently with the outermost yarn from the first package ofthe rst pair whereby the yarns are entwined into a single strand, andcollecting the thus-entwined yarns whereby the yarn supply willautomatically transfer from the first package of each pair to the secondpackage of each pair.

3. A semi-continuous method for entwining yarn unwound from a pluralityof yarn supply packages comprising the steps of mounting the supplypackages in i pairs along a common axis, connecting the inner yarn endof a first package to the outer yarn end of a second package in eachpair, passing the outermost yarn from the first package of a second pairthrough the center of the first pair of yarn supply packages, passingthe outermost yarn of additional pairs of yarn supply packages throughthe centers of succeeding pairs, and thence through the first pair,drawing the outermost yarns of the second and additional pairs of yarnsupply packages' concurrently with the outermost yarn from the firstpackage of the first pair whereby the yarns are entwined into a singlestrand, and collecting the thus-entwined yarns whereby the yarn supplywill automatically transfer from the first package of each pair to thesecond package of each pair, at the end of the collecting operationstopping the entwining operation, cutting the yarn and removing theempty yarn supply packages of each pair and replacing them with thesecond supply package of each pair, installing fresh supply packages inplace thereof, connecting the yarns, and repeating the cycle.

4. A semi-continuous method for entwining several yarns unwound from aplurality of hollow yarn supply packages which comprises the steps ofsuperimposing the supply packages on each other in pairs, tying theinner end of yarn of the upper package to the outer end of yarn of thelower package of each pair, passing the outermost yarn of the upperpackage of the lower pair through the centers of the upper pair anddrawing that yarn concurrently with the outermost yarn of the upperpackage of the upper pair, entwining the yarns, and collecting theentwined yarns whereby the yarn supply will automatically transfer tothe lower package of each pair.

5. A semi-continuous method for entwining several yarns unwound from aplurality of hollow yarn supply packages which comprises the steps ofsuperimposing the supply packages on each other in pairs, tying theinner end of yarn of the upper package to the outer end of yarn of thelower package of each pair, passing the outermost yarn of the upperpackage of the lower pair through the center of the upper pair anddrawing that yarn concurrently with the outermost yarn of the upperpackage of the upper pair, entwining the yarns, collecting the entwinedyarns whereby the yarn supply will automatically transfer to the lowerpackage of each pair, at the end of the collecting operation, stoppingthe entwining operation, cutting the yarn and removing the empty yarnsupply packages of each pair, and replacing them with the lower supplypackages of each pair, installing fresh supply packages in placethereof, connecting the yarns, and repeating the cycle.

6. In an apparatus for entwining yarn from a plurality of yarn supplypackages in which the supply packages are arranged along a common axisand the yarn from the lower packages is drawn up through centers ofrespective upper packages, and that yarn entwined into a single cordwith the yarn of the upper package and taken up on a collection means,the improvement comprising means for mounting the yarn supply packagesin pairs one above the other, means for supporting each pair ofpackages, means for passing the outermost yarn of the upper package ofeach pair through the centers of each succeeding pair of supplypackages, and means for automatically transferring the yarn from theupper packages of each pair to the lower package of each pair.

7. A package holder supported from a rst hollow yarn package andsupporting a second hollow yarn package while permitting passage ofadditional yarn axially through the first and second yarn packages, saidpackage holder comprising a tubular mandrel for insertion into one endof the first hollow package, a circular fiange extending radiallyoutward from said tubular mandrel for limiting insertion of said mandreland for receiving and supporting the second hollow package, a taperedplug secured to and extending axially of said flange on the side thereofopposite from said mandrel for positioning said second yarn package, andmeans deiining a longitudinal bore extending axially of said packageholder for receiving and permitting the passage of yarn supplied byother yarn packages.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,459,694 Reiners June 19, 1923 6 Conner Oct. 28, Reiners May 26, ParksJune 20, Buchmann et al. Mar. 26, Little et al Dec. 28, Scharf et alJuly 29, Alderfer Sept. 16, Nelson June 8, Lawrence et al. July 12,

1. A METHOD FOR ENTWINING YARN UNWOUND FROM A PLURALITY OF YARN SUPPLYPACKAGES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF MOUNTING THE SUPPLY PACKAGES AXIALLY INPAIRS, CONNECTING THE INNER YARN END OF A FIRST PACKAGE TO THE OUTERYARN END OF A SECOND PACKAGE IN EACH PAIR, PASSING THE OUTERMOST YARNFROM THE FIRST PACKAGE OF A SECOND PAIR THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE FIRSTPAIR OF YARN SUPPLY PACKAGES, PASSING THE OUTERMOST YARN OF ADDITIONALPAIRS OF YARN SUPPLY PACKAGES THROUGH THE CENTERS OF SUCCEEDING PAIRS,AND THENCE THROUGH THE FIRST PAIR, DRAWING THE OUTERMOST YARNS OF THESECOND AND ADDITIONAL PAIRS OF YARN SUPPLY PACKAGES CONCURRENTLY WITHTHE OUTERMOST YARN FROM THE FIRST PACKAGE OF THE FIRST PAIR WHEREBY THEYARNS ARE ENTWINED INTO A SINGLE STRAND, AND COLLECTING THE THUSENTWINEDYARNS.